petervisser

Just ran across your Endeavour and glad I did. Very neat work indeed. And it was fun to see your Bellona in the background as I was really impressed by your work on that model. Couldn't help noticing the Unicorn as well. It appears you're a Corel man through and through. 😉 Cheers, Peter

Hi Allen. I am currently working on the rigging of my own model at the moment and have dealt with the standing rigging not that long ago. Myself, this is how I would tackle it. Start with the shrouds on the lower mizzen mast. This will in effect set this mast as the anchor of the forward masts. Then add the lower stay from the mizzen mast to the deck or base of main mast as it will put some strain on your mizzen mast shrouds and is easier to attach without the lower main mast shrouds in the way. Attach the lower main mast shrouds and follow that up with the lower main mast stays. Then the lower foremast shrouds and fore stay. Finish off the lower level of standing rigging by attaching the bob stays of the bowsprit. After that go up a level and start back at the mizzen mast topmast shrouds, backstays and topmast stays. By now you are probably seeing a pattern to this method. I always think of it as trying to maintain a rake of the masts so that they have a slight bias of leaning aft. As for the shroud attachment, I attach them to the base of the mast and then pass them down the lubber hole or cap. Of course there are others who may have an easier or more convenient order of rigging. This is just my take. Incidently, I am rigging the ratlines last. This will allow me to reach inside the standing rigging to attach the running rigging. Working inside to out so to speak. Good luck with this next stage of your model. Cheers, Peter

I'm with Keith and think the fighting black hull is the way to go. Far more dramatic. I am really enjoying your build log and am glad you have resurrected your unique model. Cheers, Peter

Quite the process Julian, but the results look great. I really like the black acetate you used to replicate the window panes. All the best going forward. Peter

Splice that main brace Kevin! You have built a very fine model and she looks amazing. I can’t believe how quickly you have completed your build. It takes me that long to complete the hull…. Congratulations!🫡 Peter

Hi Frank. I bought the wire at a hobby store a long while ago. My source for wire are bead stores or craft shops. They have they a wide variety of gauges I use. We have Michael’s here in Canada. Their wire is normally copper or a matte silver but some black paint can be used. Hardware stores might be another place for purchasing the wire you’re after. Cheers.

Hi Julian. Your model is really coming along and the decks look really good. Perfect shade for the wood I think. As for your stern windows, have you ever thought of using the storage filament found inside floppy disks? Remember those? I first learned of this technique on the old Drydock Models website a long while back. He used that technique on his Bellona model and I was really impressed. Otherwise a blue filament might work too. Just a suggestion. I’m curious what you choose going forward. All the best. Peter

A really interesting subject Keith and at such a small scale. You're a braver man than I. It sure is starting to come to life! Peter

Hi G. I went through this dilemma a while back and tried to source the self same eyebolts. Like you, none were small enough so I tried fabicating my own. The results were less than ideal as each one was slightly different than the one before. And the length of time to produce a single eyebolt seemed quite time consuming. Not sure where or how I came up with this method but it has been a game changer for me. Below are the steps taken to manufacture these little fittings consistently and quickly. The size of the eye will vary with the size of the needle and gauge of the wire. Just experiment to get the size down to your satisfaction. Cheers, Peter

On to the next phase of rigging the yards. I have prepped all the blocks for the sheets, tacks and clew lines. Because of the use of the stock blocks that come with a Billing kit, I have painted them all black with 2 coats of Humbrol paint. A bit tedious to say the least but worth the effort. There are also a number of coils ready to hang from the belaying pins once the rigging starts.

It’s always rewarding to see a tall ship get tall! There’s an amazing amount of prep work in assembling the masts and yards but you have a good handle on that. All the best with the rest! Peter

Congratulations on your fine model. You did a masterful job and she looks terrific! You are a brave builder to put a full suit of sails on. It doubles the amount of rigging and at this scale it is not the easiest to reach all the areas as you point out. But the results look amazing. Well done! Peter

Hi Felix and welcome to MSW. I too started this hobby with a Billing kit, the Mary Ann and have been hooked ever since. There is another reason for the 6mm gap as you call it between the outer edge of the planking and the bulwark. It is called a waterway. It creates a shallow channel to carry water off the wood decking and allows the water to flow towards the scuppers. All the best with your new project. It looks like a great introduction to this fantastic hobby. Peter

Hi Ron. As for the yards, they are spray painted a Matt black. I think the flood lights I use and the iPhone camera may have played tricks with the photos. Although I am trying to replicate the rigging of the CS, I have taken a couple of minor shortcuts regarding some of the fittings. This in turn may affect the run of some of the lines controlling the sheets and clew lines. I’m simply unable to manufacture the actual fittings in this scale and so have adapted the fittings I have on hand and made due. So be warned, this aspect of the model is a reasonable facsimile but not 100% accurate. Happy modelling! Peter

Amazing detail work on your deck fixtures uscharin! Your talent at fabricating these tiny appliances is outstanding. All the best going forward with this project. I’ll be following along. Peter

There are a fair number of tools and supplies necessary for rigging the model. Styrafoam trays are pretty handy in keeping sets of tools herded together and reduces the amount of time spent looking for the tool you need. My work bench is still a bit of a dog's breakfast at times but organizing it once in a while saves alot of foul language... I've also added a picture of the chain used on the model along with some reference material from Harold Underhill's book, Masting and Rigging the Clipper Ship and Ocean Carrier.

I've been a tad busier in my workshop of late which I'm pretty happy about. Since posting last time, all the yards above the upper topsail yards are hung and secured in place with tyes, halliards and lifts. I have used Longridge's and Underhill's books as references and the end result on my model is acceptable to my own satisfaction. The running rigging for the yards uses quite a bit of chain which is novel for me. I was able to source the chain needed at a local bead shop. It is some kind of brass alloy which I have painted black in situ after the yard is placed on the mast. I have found it easier to paint the chain on the model as the chain is taut and easy to access from each side. The next set of rigging to install will be the sheets, tacks and clew lines. I am trying to work from the centerline to the rails in order to have easier access to the belaying points. Therefore the ratlines will probably be the last bit of rigging to complete.

Hi Julian. Congrats on your fine model. She turned out really nice. I like building this size model between bigger builds like your Friesland. It makes for a nice break of intricate, complicated repetitive steps. All the best with your next project! Merry Christmas! Peter

Hi Galkar and welcome to MSW. Like you I am also an avid fan of Patrick O’Brian and his incredible body of work. I too have read the series several times and will likely read them again. As for the Sophie in Master and Commander, she is a fictional brig based on Cochrane’s Speedy and therefore has little resemblance to the actual brig. But like you, I also have a keen desire to build her. Therefore I have purchased Model Shipways Fair American which I believe to be a reasonable facsimile of the Sophie in M&C. They both have raised poop decks, and with a few tweaks, the Fair American can be made to resemble the brig depicted on the cover as painted by Geoff Hunt. All the best with your enjoyment of this amazing hobby. Cheers, Peter

After another lengthy hiatus, work has resumed on my Cutty Sark. I left off work last spring after discovering I had made a somewhat serious error on some of the rigging of the masts. It has taken several months to reconcile these errors, and deciding whether to undo a substantial amount of standing rigging or leave well enough alone and charge on. I opted for Option B as the mistakes can only be noticed by me and an astute number of serious clipper ship aficonadoes on this website. 😉 I have fitted a number of the lower yards with ties and halliards and have now dry fitted the upeer yards on all three masts. I spent the last couple of days manufacturing collars for the trusses. Now I can continue rigging the yards with ties, lifts and halliards. Here are some pics showing all the yards in place , the upper ones being dry fitted.

I'm with Glenn and bartley. I have acquired my nameplate from a trophy shop for a reasonable price. It is also a great way of including some pertinent info you might want to include with the name. Here is a sample...

Congratulations Ed on your very fine build of the NL. She is a real beauty. And no less so without the masting and rigging. Something I will be considering when I build this model one day. Cheers, Peter

Hi Hostez, Wow, such a beautifully planked hull. Seems a shame to hide it under paint and copper tiles. That said, a black and copper hull look fantastic! All the best going forward! Peter

A thing of beauty! Congratulations on your very fine model. Peter